For centuries women have used cloth as a tool of comfort and as an expression of beauty within their homes. Creating cloth for warmth, cloth for shelter, our female predecessors embellished these linens with hand stitch using laborious and time consuming techniques thereby enhancing the functional beauty of objects which enveloped and protected their families. Inspired by these women I hope my creations pay tribute to and recognise the devotion expressed in cloth by our female ancestors .







''the use of traditional often time consuming process alludes to the devotion of a mother''. c K. A. Ruane 2007







Tuesday, July 12, 2011

pleating, gathering, maybe even smocking....



Technically it is smocking it's just that I have bound the stitches too tight meaning there isn't much chance of any 'give' or 'stretch'...a good idea actually considering what I have in mind. It will work, I am determined. This silk will become part of the fourth one....the third one is finished and there is a little glimpse of that here too, just below.
I will be putting all four pieces in the shop sometime this week. I hope to have number four finished by Thursday at the latest so tomorrow I may just post a little gift for you, we shall see. I am aiming to have them listed before Saturday as I am off  'up north', just for the day, a trip of an hour and a half each way so not too far. When I get there I am hoping to eat cake....

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

The smocking/pleating does create a different texture, doesn't it. Another intriguing contrast..

Lois Evensen said...

Oooooh, pretty!

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Mmmmm, I am liking the tight smocking / pleating / whatever it is! I am also liking cake! Enjoy your trip up north.
Janice.x

Jane said...

What a wonderful combination

Dolores said...

Funny you mentioning smocking. I just came across a summer dress I made for my (soon to be 35) daughter when she was little. I even found the pattern and would like to make more - except I don't know for who.

Heartwideopen said...

I LOVE the smocking you've done! I'm still wrapping my mind around all the stitching on paper. I'm afraid my hands would scream at me if I tried to pin-prick all those holes. I admire you GREATLY!

xx ;-) Debi

Doreen G said...

Just when I think your work can't get any better Karen you introduce something new.
Wonderful work.

deanna7trees said...

wouldn't that smocking (technically) make a beautiful window shade...

Suztats said...

Mmm, love that smocking, it adds a nice texture.

Sheeprustler said...

I want to see you smock paper :) while eating cake :)

Anonymous said...

Pleaking, maybe. Or smotting. Either way, I like it very much.

Gayle said...

Love the smocking!!! :-)

**EYE-SNACKS** said...

oh,oh what a treat you gave us always with your beautiful embroideries!
Thanks!!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

The cake hadn't better be anywhere near this, especially it if happens to be chocolate. Smocking is so beautiful - wish I could do it justice.